Electrical service and heat dissipating connection for electrodes



N 2,788,379 nxssxmvrmc RODES Ap 1957 E. A. M PHERSO ELECTRICAL SERVICE AND HEAT CONNECTION FOR ELECT Filed Oct. 24, 195

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ELECTRICAL SERVICE AND HEAT DISSIPATIN G CONNECTION FOR ELECTRODES Elmer A. McPherson, Mount Clemens, Mich assignor to Upton Electric Furnace Company, Mount Clemens, Mich, a copartnership Application October 24, 1955, Serial No. 542,398 Claims. (Cl. 13-16) The invention relates to electrical furnaces and more particularly to furnaces of the fused salt bath type. it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which will permit of adjustment of the electrode into the furnace as its inner end portion is consumed and will also form etlicient heat dissipating means for the external portion of the electrode and a good electrical service connection thereto. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing a portion of the fused bath heat treating furnace and an electrode extending through the Wall thereof provided on the portion external to the furnace with my improved construction of heat dissipating and electrical service connection Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the electrode and its connections.

As shown in Fig. 1, A is the fused bath heat treating furnace having a retaining wall A apertured for the passage of an electrode 8, which may be either metallic. graphite, or of any other suitable material. The electrode must be sufliciently free in its passage through the wall to permit of such adjustment, while at the same time to prevent escape of the fluid of the bath, a portion thereof still within the wall must be cooled to a temperature at which the fluid congeals. This requires etficient cooling means applied to the external portion of the electrode close to said wall but of such construction as to permit electrode adjustment.

My improved construction of cooling means comprises a helical coil of tubing C which surrounds the electrode with an annular space therebetween. Substantially filling this space and extending thereinto longitudinally of the electrode are metallic conductors D which at one end are connected to a service cable E. The coil is resilient and in its normal condition is free from clamping pressure against the conductors and the electrode. However, by a relative movement of the opposite ends of the coil the helix maybe wound up to contract the diameter of the convolutions thereof and produce clamping pressure against the conductors and electrode. To accomplish this purpose one or 'both of the end convolutions C of the coil C are extended tangentially in a generally vertical direction. On the opposite side of the electrode from each of these tangential extensions is a ates Patent 0 vertical post F anchored at its lower end to a channel beam G which extends beneath the electrode longitudinally thereof outward from the furnace wall. A link H extends between the tangential extension C and the post F and a screw H between the post and lint: forms a means for angularly moving a portion C in a direction to wind up the helix. The resiliency of the helix will restore it to normal condition Whenever the screw H is turned to reiease the link. The amount of contraction in diameter of the coils of the helix produced by such adjustment is sufficient to firmly clamp the coils against. the conductors D and electrode 13. This will at the same ti; to produce good electrical connection and good thermal conductivity between the electrode and the coil. However, at any time a clamping pressure may he released by adjustment of the screws H, whereupon the electrode is free for longitudinal adjustment within the coil and into the furnace.

It will he understood that the tangential portions C of the helix are connected by flexible hose connections l to any suitable apparatus (not shown) for passing a cooling fluid through the coil.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Heat dissipating for electrical furnace electrodes comprising a resilient tubular helix surrounding the electrode with freedom for relative longitudinal adjustment of the latter and through the tube of which helix a coolant fluid is passed, and. means for winding up said helix sutiiciently to produce clamping pressure against said electrode.

2. The construction as in slain. .1 in which said means for Winding up the helix comprises a tangential extension from an end convoiution of the helix, and means for adjusting said extension angularly about the axis or" the helix.

3. The construction as in claim 2 in which a similar tangential extension and adjustment means therefor is at the opposite end of said helix.

4. The construction as in claim 2 in which said adjustment means includes a post on the opposite side of the electrode from said tangential exten on, a link between said post and tangential. extension, and a screw tor adjusting the length of said link.

5. The construction as in claim 2 having a series of metallic conductors between said helix and electrodes, said conductors being connected to an electrical service, whereby the winding up of the helix will at the time produce good electrical conduction between the service and electrode and good thermal conduction between the electrode and the helix.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

